-accent this year on LCDS
GUYANA Model Search begins airing this week on local television stations and according to Guyana Fashion Weekend (GFW) CEO, Sonia Noel, the accent this time around is on President Jagdeo’s novel Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). “We will ensure that we spread the word of the need to preserve this  nation’s environment  for the enjoyment of future generations, not only from the perspective of being able to view the splendor of Guyana’s natural beauty, but also enjoy the benefits derived from the healthy drinking water, shelter for wildlife and oxygen,” Noel said in a release , adding that since the mandate is to develop industries not only based in the energy sector, fashion adds new direction to their diversification efforts.

And in keeping with the adage, ‘It is not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for your country’, she said GFW has taken the bull by the horns to spearhead this development. And with October being Cancer Awareness Month, Noel said the subject will be highlighted in all of GFW activities, starting with the breast cancer awareness walk the first week in October.

Noting that many youngsters, like the Telford sisters, Marcia Ede Santos and Sonella Forte, have over the years launched their designing careers at GFW, Noel said:

“We have been receiving many calls from designers all over Guyana desirous of being part of GFW, and that is one of the reasons that we are conducting the auditions over a few days to give everyone an opportunity, especially in out of town areas.”

With the development of this creative industry becoming increasingly pivotal with each passing year, more-so in the face of the global economic downturn, Noel said GFW tries to facilitate this new direction and promotes the evolution of the local fashion industry.

GFW, she said, is about celebrating the viability and vitality of the Caribbean aesthetic by revealing in-Guyanese style.

The release also said that a number of workshops will take place during August for the designers who are part of GFW and the designers association so as to raise the level of their collections.

Additionally, this year the team is working hard at launching GFW in North America to create awareness in the Caribbean Diaspora there in an effort to create more opportunities for designers in that particular community.

Simultaneously, plans are in place for ‘Cutting-Edge’ style, which is the pairing of a chef and a designer for an evening of “unbelievable talent.”

Designers will also have a chance to register as a member of Guyana’s Designers Association that is open to every designer and not only those who do clothing because footwear and jewellery are part of the industry.

Current Model Search winners Yolanda Kerr and Jamaine Victor are currently in Trinidad for FWTT. The audition for designers were held on March 8 -16 at Silhouette on Barr Street, Kitty, and designers were asked to walk with three sketches or a portfolio and two complete outfits.

The premiere fashion event is scheduled for October 30 and 31 at the Pegasus Hotel, and auditions for male and female models are expected to start next month. The model search competition will begin its weekly airing from tomorrow on NCN and HJTV, culminating with a grand finale at Pegasus to be aired on July 7.

For more info on the audition, call 226-3099 or email guyanafw@gmail.com